The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-17

A Peculiar biscAsc Contracted in a
Match Factory-A Critical surgic-
nj Oueratiou

Blackwell's Island, saysa special to
The Cincinnati Enquirer. When he
was first admitted to the Hospital,
about two months ago, his legs and
body were covered with strange look
ing spots, which in some places had
progressed into an ulcerous formation.
1t has been suspected by physician.
who had been treating the case, that
the disease was leprosy. As this dis
ease Is never met with here, reliance
had to be placed upon the published
description of the symptoms, and there
were many Of the characteristics. The
dagonis was believed to stand on Il
fairly sound basis. as there was no his
tory of syphilitic complication. The
patient was put under treatment in an
isolated ward in the Hospital and
closely watched. There was no change
for the better, and the effect of medi-
cine Of any kind was aggravatng TO
the symptoms. The ulcers and spots
had been upon the body for about two
years. The mouth and neck of the
patient were greatly swollen. but the
real cause of .lis was not discovered at
first. as the condition was thought to
be n manifestation of the disease.
There were no teeth in the lower jaw.
The patient said that they got so
loose that it was no trouble to pull
them olh with his fingers. A portion
of the teeth on the upper jaw were also
out. but these had not dropped out like
the teeth on the lower jaw The pa
tent breath was so foul that it made
his own life burden, and the stom-
aches Of his attendants were rarely in
good working order The lower lip
being depressed, the symphisis of the
inferior maXillary could be seen. 1t
was entirely nccrosed and in horrible
condit on. Phosphorus, it is claimed,
will cause necrosis of the jaw-bone.
This patient worked for several years
in II match factory, and the first trouble
that he had with his jaw was while
there. His teeth had never been good,
and the PHOSPHORUS had I'M excellent
chance to demonstrate what it could do
in the way of necrosis. There had
never been any bodily sores until after
the trouble with the jaw began.
A careful examination showed that
the disease had involved the entire
lower jaw and extended 10 the right
articulation. There IS only one remedy
for necrosis and that is the eXtirpaion
of the bone. But the system of the
patient was in such condition that {
made il Il dangerous complication. and
difficult to determine what the effect of
the operation would be. However, as
the patient was gradually getting
weaker, and the question of II fatal
termination was only n matter of time,
and short Mt that, if relief was not Civ
en-, it was decided to operate.
The patient was placed under the in
lluencc OF ether, in the large amphi-
theater of the Hospital. in the presence
of large number of students and
physicians. DR.. Bodine handled the
knife.
An incison was made from the poin.
of The chin to the lower lip the red
portion not being touched. From the
point of the jaw the incson was ex-
tended to the right, along the under
side of the bone, to the protuberance
under the ear. A similar incison was
made on the right side. Then the
cheeks on both sides of the face were
dissected from the bone, and the loos-
ened flesh was turned up over the face.
This exposed the bone in all its hideous-
ness. Forceps were applied to the
bone at its middle portion, and even
under light pressure it crumbled.
The odor gwen out was almost unbear-
able. AS the bone would break away
4 new hold was taken, until ii had been |
up to the limit of the incision.
To get at all the diseased bone the |
ng run through the tissue in front of
The ear.
The right articulation was removed
with but little trouble. rs IL was badly |
Affected. The attachment of the bone
It the left articulation was firm. Sew
,ral tendons had TO be cut, during
which proceeding the maxillary artery
was punctured. The blood spurted
nto the throat, and before pressure
,ould be put on the artery the crimson
luid entered the trachea. The patient
vas in danger of suflocation. The
operating surgeon turned the head of
he patient downward. forced his hand
nto the throat and absorbed the blood
With a sponge. Ii required large
mount Of stimulant, given hypoderm-
cally, to bring the patient to u condi-
ion where it was deemed safe to go on
With the work. As the muscular at
achment was divided, the tongue drop
led back into the throat To prevent
he clos ng Of the CLOTHS, threaded
Ieedle was ran through the tip of the
ongue, and it was drawn out aud held
" an assistant. The lacerated artery
aving been tied. the tendon holding
he bone in position was severed. and
~ rofnfinrr the hnnn with fnrcana tho |